Over the weekend, I got ahold of Howie Hawkins, Green party candidate for mayor of Syracuse. I wanted to ask him - if he managed to be elected mayor - if he would pledge to block any use of eminent domain on the North Side over the next four years.

Hawkins made that vow. He said the only time he could imagine using any form of eminent domain might be if the city wanted to reclaim large pieces of land held by public agencies - such as Hawkins' dream for knocking down the elevated portions of Interstate 81 in downtown Syracuse and replacing those bridges with "a greenway" to connect different sections of the city.

The original question is tied to some drawings related to Destiny USA that show a massive convention center and highway arterials built atop residential and commercial neighborhoods on the North Side.

Last week, Republican candidate Joanie Mahoney declined to comment on eminent domain and the North Side. Mayor Matt Driscoll said, "Not on my watch" - but wouldn't rule it out in the long run.